My son is in the US Army and is about to deploy to Iraq for the 2nd time. We had not saw him in almost 2 years until Easter of 2007. I booked him on a round-trip flight WEEKS IN ADVANCE via United Airlines. We chose a flight that had a brief 35 minute stop in Chicago. He was flying to Peoria, IL from Fort Carson, CO on April 6, 2007. His flight was supposed to arrive here shortly before 11:00 am that Friday morning. We had a HUGE celebration planned and tons of people at the airport waiting to welcome him home. We had huge signs, balloons, and even a local band.

Well, he boards in Fort Carson and the plane is 35 minutes delayed leaving for Chicago. With only a 35 minute layover expected for Chicago, he still made it to O'Hare in plenty of time to board his connecting flight. However, he was told upon arriving at O'Hare that his connecting flight had left 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. What???? Why would a plane leave early knowing they had empty seats that were prebooked???????

So, they told him they would get him on the next flight but unfortunately that would not be boarding for another 3 hours. If that was not bad enough, this new flight got cancelled and they tell him it will be 10:00 pm before there is another flight to Peoria.

At home, I am livid and on the phone with UA customer service most ALL day long. They call O'Hare and explain this is a soldier coming home and order them to get him on any flight they can.

So, they book him on a flight from Chicago to Bloomington, IL which is over an hour away from where he should have arrived. But, we got there and FINALLY got him home about 7 pm.

If this was not enough, we then learn they sent his luggage off on another flight and this mean't he had no clothes. GREAT! NOT!

He only had four days leave and one day of that was shot just getting him here. We had to spend the 2nd day searching for his luggage and speaking with United's customer service all day as they tried to track it down. This also cause everyone who was waiting for him on his original flight to miss his homecoming and it totally ruined his homecoming party!

In the end, United Airlines promised us a 200.00 travel voucher for all he had been through. This was to arrive within 7 business days. Guess what? It FINALLY got here today and it is for $50.00 NOT the promised $200.00.

Thank you United for totally ruining what should have been a glorious occassion. You will NEVER get our business again if I can help it.